Lottery system based on sporting events

ABSTRACT

A method of conducting a lottery using sporting events as a basis of defining a winning condition for the lottery, comprising the steps of: identifying a group of scheduled sporting events  11 , associating the group of sporting events with single lottery competition  12 , defining a plurality of parameters comprising predictions to be made by a lottery participant with respect to the win/loss outcomes of the group of sporting events  13 , charging a fee to participate in the lottery competition  14 , providing a prediction request to the participant to enable reporting of predictions made by the participant regarding win/loss outcomes of the sporting events  15 , and assigning cash award amounts to participants that are at least partially successful in predicting a majority of sporting event outcomes  16 , said amounts being based on a total of fees paid by the participants in the lottery competition.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a lottery in which a numberof participants select a series of numbers within a given range with thewinner(s) being the one whose numbers correspond to a randomly generatedseries of numbers. More particularly, the present invention relates to alottery in which the participants select from possible win/loss outcomesof sporting events instead of numbers.

2. Related Art

There are many varieties and techniques for the administration oflottery games. The majority of these games have a participant select aseries of numbers as part of the lottery competition. The administratorthen randomly generates another series of numbers, which defines thewinning combination. Typical problems associated with the lotteryindustry include: (i) the remote chance of winning due to the millionsof permutations for the outcomes of the numbers, (ii) the lack ofmeaningful participation and control of the game due the nominal skillneeded to simply guess numbers, and (iii) possible uncertainty as towhether the administrator of the lottery is generating truly randomnumbers.

Some attempts have been made at remedying these problems using variousmethods that combine the use of sporting events with the functions of alottery. WO9926204 derives lottery numbers from an algorithm usingverifiable sources such as sporting events, stock market closing values,etc. This method mirrors other methods by still requiring theparticipant to simply guess numbers. Accordingly meaningfulparticipation in this game is limited.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,239 discloses a method where random numbers aregenerated and assigned to the participant. Groups of sporting events aregiven pre-determined numbers corresponding to different possibleoutcomes. The winner is the one who possesses a matching set of numbers.In this case the participant does not even select his/her own numbers.Hence this method could almost completely deprive the participant of asense of being involved.

WO9919841 depicts a method where the participant attempts to predict aseries of total final scores for a group of sporting events. Theparticipant is given a lottery card that is split into two columns. Theleft column contains a list of sporting events. The right columncontains multiple cells corresponding to a number, or range of numbers.The participant selects the cell which contains the number that he/shefeels will reflect the sum total of both teams' scores. There are stillserious limitations to meaningful participation in this case. Forexample, to predict that the final total score in a professional soccergame will be 3 does not really take a great deal of knowledge becausethese events have characteristically low scoring. Indeed the thoughtprocess does not even involve selecting which team won the game. Thealternative scores of 2 to 1, 1 to 2, or 3 to 0 all have the same totalof 3. Furthermore, the participant is still merely guessing at a seriesof numbers. For this and other reasons this lottery method isunattractive.

It is therefore desirable to have a lottery where the participant canhave a higher degree of participation by allowing them to do more thansimply guess at numbers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It has been recognized that it would be advantageous to develop alottery wherein the participant can have a higher level of meaningfulparticipation. This invention creates this higher level by allowing theparticipant to apply their skills in predicting various win/lossoutcomes of events instead of only numbers.

Specifically, one embodiment of the present invention outlines a methodof conducting a lottery using sporting events. The said method includesthe steps of identifying a group of scheduled sporting events, andassociating the group of sporting events with single lotterycompetition. Parameters are then defined comprising predictions to bemade by a participant with respect to the win/loss outcomes of theevents. The participant pays a fee and is provided a prediction requestform, thereby enabling reporting of win/loss predictions of the sportingevents. Cash awards and/or prizes are given to participants that are atleast partially successful in predicting a majority of sporting eventoutcomes.

In accordance with a more detailed aspect of the present invention, thismethod provides for the scheduled sporting events to be played in eitherclose time proximity, or spanned over longer periods. This method alsoallows for multiple events across multiple categories of sports to beentities in the lottery. The participant may predict various win/lossoutcomes including, but not limited to, the actual game winner, whetherthe game stayed within a given point spread, and whether the finalscores add to be over or under a specified amount. Also, participantsmay predict final rankings as win/loss parameters for the case of anevent wherein rank is the main outcome factor.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the detailed description which follows, taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, which together illustrate, by way of example,features of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 presents a graphic flowchart representing the present inventionmethod.

FIG. 2 presents a graphic flowchart representing an alternativeembodiment to this invention

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of this invention wherein the lotteryis played in conjunction with football events.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of this invention wherein the lotteryis played in conjunction with baseball events.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of this invention wherein the lotteryis played in conjunction with basketball events.

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of this invention wherein the lotteryis played in conjunction with soccer events.

FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of this invention wherein the lotteryis played in conjunction with a horseracing event.

FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of this invention wherein the lotteryis played in conjunction with multiple types of sporting events.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated inthe drawings, and specific language will be used herein to describe thesame. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scopeof the invention is thereby intended. Alterations and furthermodifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, andadditional applications of the principles of the inventions asillustrated herein, which would occur to one skilled in the relevant artand having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered withinthe scope of the invention.

FIGS. 1 and 2 schematically depict possible steps for method embodimentsof the present invention for processing these cards as part of alottery. Not every step depicted is performed for a given embodiment.Similarly, the order of the steps shown is not intended to be limiting,and it is to be understood that variations in the order are to beconsidered within the scope of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 the present invention may be embodied as amethod 10 to conduct a lottery using sporting events as a basis ofdefining winning conditions. The method comprises the steps ofidentifying a group of scheduled sporting events 11, associating thegroup of sporting events with a single lottery competition 12, definingparameters comprising predictions to be made with respect to thewin/loss outcomes of the group of sporting events 13, charging a fee toparticipate in the lottery competition 14, providing a predictionrequest to the participant to enable reporting predictions of win/lossoutcomes 15, assigning award amounts to participants that are at leastpartially successful in predicting a majority of event outcomes 16, andcarrying awards over to the next game in the case that no participantfulfilled the winning conditions 17.

The step of identifying a group of scheduled sporting events 11 mayinclude a group of like events such as ten football games being playedon a given day, or a seven game playoff series in basketball. The groupmay also comprise a mixture of various events to be played such as threebaseball games, three soccer games, and two football games. These eventsmay be played in close proximity, or spanned out over a long period oftime. Each of these parameters will be determined by the lotteryadministrator while associating the events together to form thecompetition 12.

Defined parameters made with respect to the win/loss outcomes 13 mayinclude, but are not limited to, the actual winner of the event, winningor losing by a point spread, and whether the final scores are over orunder a specified amount. In the case of a racing event win/lossparameters could be defined as a ranking order or segment of the order,and/or over or under a specified time limit. It should be noted that avariety of win/loss parameters are currently used in the field of sportsgambling, many of which could easily be integrated into the presentinvention.

The four steps of (i) charging a fee to participate in the lotterycompetition 14, (ii) providing a prediction request to the participantto enable reporting of predictions 15, (iii) awarding successfulparticipants 16, and (iv) carrying awards over in case no participantwins 17 may be done by any means known to one skilled in the art. Feesand awards are generally determined based on overhead costs, the numberof participants playing, and other common factors. There are numeroustechniques in the administration of lotteries that could be integratedinto the present invention. These processes can be performed manually orincorporated into a fully automated system using computers and userterminals.

FIG. 2 outlines an alternate method 20 for conducting the lottery forthis invention. This method comprises the steps of generating a list ofscheduled sporting events 21, creating prediction requests for lotteryparticipants based on the list 22, recording predictions by theparticipants of win/loss outcome(s) for event(s) 23, collecting an entryfee along with the prediction requests from the participants 24, placingthe said predictions in a lottery 25, comparing predicted results fromeach of the participants with the actual outcome(s) of the sportingevents 26, awarding specified prizes to the participants that are atleast partially successful in predicting a majority of sporting eventoutcomes 27, or carrying the awards over to later lotteries 28 in theinstance that no participant is partially successful in predicting theoutcomes.

Representations of embodiments of the present invention are seen in thelottery cards illustrated in FIGS. 3-6. The said cards 30, 40, 50, and60 may be split into three columns. The left column 31, 41, 51, 61indicates a group of scheduled sporting events as chosen by a lotteryadministrator. The events are separated into the particular team matchups as shown in 34, 44, 54, and 64. The right column 33, 43, 53, 63indicates the date and time in which the sporting events are to takeplace. The center columns 32, 42, 52, and 62 contain, in part, theparameters comprising predictions to be made by the participant withrespect to the win/loss outcomes. These parameters include selecting thewinner 35, 45, 55, 65, selecting either (i) a win by more than the pointspread 37, 47, 57, 67, or (ii) a tie of the point spread 38, 48, 58, 68.The point spread is denoted by a number in quotes 36, 46, 56, 66,wherein a negative number denotes a team is favored to win by thatamount, and a positive number denotes that a team is picked to lose bythat amount. Other parameters in this embodiment include whether thegame will be over (39, 49, 59, 69) or under (310, 410, 510, 610) thegiven point total.

A fee is charged to the participant to enter and the lottery form showsverification by assigning a unique index number on each ticket 311, 411,511, and 611. Participants then fill in their prediction request byselecting the desired field that denotes their win/loss predictions.Upon completion of the outlined sporting events, cash awards and/orprizes are assigned to participants that are at least partiallysuccessful in predicting a majority of sporting event outcomes. In theevent that no participant wins the lottery, the awards accumulate and gotoward the next lottery contest. The lottery contests will have varyinglength that is indicated on the card 312, 412, 512, 612.

It should be noted that in the above embodiments the groups of eventsare made up of the same sport, i.e. football in FIG. 3. FIG. 8illustrates an embodiment comprising multiple types of sporting events.

FIG. 7 is an example of an embodiment in which the win/loss parametersare predicting the player's final ranking. More particularly thissporting event is a horse race and the lottery participant is to selectonly the winner. The lottery card 70 contains a number of races thatrepresents the group of scheduled events. A single race is denoted by71. Common horseracing abbreviations for the distance of the race, typeof racing surface, type of purse, value of the race, and types of horsesrunning are seen in 72. The odds of each horse wining 73 are given foreach horse, on each race. The participant is to predict a winner in eachrace as seen by 74, which is the only win/loss outcome prediction inthis embodiment. As on other embodiments, a fee is charged to theparticipant to enter and the lottery form shows verification byassigning a unique index number on each ticket 75. The award process issimilar to the examples above, and the lottery contests have varyinglengths that are indicated on the card 76.

It is to be understood that the above-referenced arrangements are onlyillustrative of the application for the principles of the presentinvention. Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements can bedevised without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention. For example, winning conditions could include selecting onlythe winner of the football games. For the horse race, winning conditionscould include not only selecting the horse that will take first place,but also selecting a partial or entire order of completion. While thepresent invention has been shown in the drawings and fully describedabove with particularity and detail in connection with what is presentlydeemed to be the most practical and preferred embodiment(s) of theinvention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the artthat numerous modifications can be made without departing from theprinciples and concepts of the invention as set forth herein.

1. A method of conducting a lottery using sporting events as a basis ofdefining winning conditions for the lottery, said method comprising thesteps of: a) identifying a group of scheduled sporting events; b)associating the group of sporting events with a lottery competition; c)defining a plurality of parameters comprising predictions to be made bya lottery participant with respect to the win/loss outcomes of the groupof sporting events; d) charging a fee to participate in the lotterycompetition; e) providing a prediction request to the participant toenable reporting of the predictions made by the participant regardingwill/loss outcomes of the sporting events; f) assigning award amounts tothe participants that are at least partially successful in predicting amajority of sporting event outcomes, said amounts being based on a totalof fees paid by the participants in the lottery competition; and g)carrying awards over to a next game if no participant fulfills thewinning conditions.
 2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein theevents are approximately coincident in time of play.
 3. A method asdefined in claim 1, wherein the events are spread over a period ofseveral days.
 4. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the events areselected from a group consisting of football, basketball, baseball,soccer, volleyball, softball, hockey, skiing, snowboarding, skating,bicycle racing, horse racing, vehicle racing, gymnastics, swimming,boxing, extreme sports, and track and field.
 5. A method as defined inclaim 1, wherein the events are selected from a single sport.
 6. Amethod as defined in claim 1, wherein the events are selected from agroup of events in at least two or more sports.
 7. A method as definedin claim 1, wherein the win/loss outcome includes a difference of twoteam's final scores (point spread).
 8. A method as defined in claim 1,wherein the win/loss outcome includes a tie game status for events inwhich a tie outcome is allowed.
 9. A method as defined 8, wherein thetie condition can occur by an event winner prevailing by exactly a givenpoint spread.
 10. A method as defined 1, wherein the win/loss outcomeincludes a score outcome to be either over a given point total or undera given point total.
 11. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein thewin/loss outcome includes a ranking order of competitors in the event.12. A method as defined 11, wherein only a segment of the order ispredicted.
 13. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the participant'spredictions are a combination of outcome possibilities.
 14. A method asdefined in claim 1, wherein the participant may predict multipleoutcomes of the same event.
 15. A method as defined in claim 1, whereinpredictions are made on alternate events in an instance of acancellation of the original event.
 16. A program storage devicereadable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructionsexecutable by the machine to perform method steps for processing alotter event, said method steps comprising: a) generating a list ofscheduled sporting events; b) creating prediction requests for lotteryparticipants based on the list; c) recording predictions by theparticipants of win/loss outcome(s) for the event(s); d) collecting anentry fee along with the prediction requests from the participants; e)placing the predictions in a lottery; f) comparing predicted resultsfrom each of the participants with actual outcome(s) of the sportingevents; g) awarding specified prizes to the participants that are atleast partially successful in predicting a majority of the win/lossoutcomes, said prizes being based on a total of fees paid by all of theparticipants in the lottery; and h) carrying the awards over to laterlotteries in the case that no participant is partially successful inpredicting the outcomes.
 17. A method as defined in claim 16, whereinthe events are approximately coincident in time of play.
 18. A method asdefined in claim 16, wherein the events are spread over a period ofseveral days.
 19. A method as defined in claim 16, wherein the eventsare selected from a group consisting of football, basketball, baseball,soccer, volleyball, softball, hockey, skiing, snowboarding, skating,bicycle racing, horse racing, vehicle racing, gymnastics, swimming,boxing, extreme sports, and track and field.
 20. A method as defined inclaim 16, wherein the events are selected from a single sport.
 21. Amethod as defined in claim 16, wherein the events are selected from agroup of events in at least two sports.
 22. A method as defined in claim16, wherein the win/loss outcome includes a difference of two team'sfinal scores (point spread).
 23. A method as defined in claim 16,wherein the win/loss outcome includes a tie game status for events inwhich a tie outcome is allowed.
 24. A method as defined 23, wherein thetie condition can occur by an event winner prevailing by exactly a givenpoint spread.
 25. A method as defined 16, wherein the win/loss outcomeincludes a score outcome to be either over a given point total or undera given point total.
 26. A method as defined in claim 16, wherein thewin/loss outcome includes a ranking order of competitors in the event.27. A method as defined 26, wherein only a segment of the order ispredicted.
 28. A method as defined in claim 16, wherein theparticipant's predictions are a combination of outcome possibilities.29. A method as defined in claim 16, wherein the participant may predictmultiple outcomes of the same event.
 30. A method as defined in claim16, wherein predictions are made on alternate events in an instance of acancellation of the event.
 31. A computer program product comprising: acomputer usable medium having a computer readable code means embodied insaid medium for processing a lottery event, the computer readableprogram code in said article of manufacture comprising: a computerreadable program code means for causing the computer to generate a listof scheduled sporting events; a computer readable program code means forcausing the computer to create prediction requests for lotteryparticipants based on the list; a computer readable program code meansfor causing the computer to record predictions by the participants ofwin/loss outcome(s) for the event(s); a computer readable program codemeans for causing the computer to collect an entry fee along with theprediction requests from the participants; a computer readable programcode means for causing the computer to place the predictions in alottery; a computer readable program code means for causing the computerto compare predicted results from each of the participants with actualoutcome(s) of the sporting events; a computer readable program codemeans for causing the computer to award specified prizes to theparticipants that are at least partially successful in predicting amajority of the win/loss outcomes, said prizes being based on a total offees paid by all of the participants in the lottery; and a computerreadable program code means for causing the computer to carry the awardsover to later lotteries in the case that no participant is partiallysuccessful in predicting the outcomes.